Monday, September 15, 2008

First off, I must say that cycling is a fun and healthy sport. Its green and hip. Its easy to learn. You can take it to as high an intensity as you want. It can be easy, it can be painful but both have their benefits.

Wearing Lycra and tight fitting spandex is one of the precursors to enjoying a serious bike ride, but the very thought of that puts many off (such as G.W Bush).

I have to say that it has its benefits.

For example, did you know that the gorgeous Heidi Klum fell for musician Seal (not the most talented in the good looks category) when she first saw him walk out of a Hotel gym in bicycle shorts?? Ha!!

If you don't believe me, just forward this video to 5:45, where Oprah asks the couple how they first met. Hear what she says.

Wow! :) There you go!! So you men out there! Wear bicycle shorts, because thats what the ladies like!!

Anyway, coming back to the original objective of this post, lets take a thorough look at the some of the famous who's whos, the movers and shakers on T.V and elsewhere who take time off to be with something as mundane as a bicycle, enjoying the simplicity of rhythmic pedaling motion. If you have any more names and pictures to append to this list, do drop in a comment!!

Want to dash away from the Paparazzi? Sure, hop on a bike !! While most people would ride flashy expensive cars to a Hollywood club, comedian Dick rode a bike to Parc. Then a bouncer kicked him out and all Andy had was a bike to get away from nosey cameramen.

The Conservative Mayor of London is well known for his love of cycling. Infact, he bikes to work regularly and has been the victim of several bike thefts. The Mayor has had to get to Parliament at times so quickly that he was recently involved in a controversy where he blasted through six red lights and was hammered by the media and public for his negligence! He also attends cell phone calls while riding! Nice!

Everyone's (un)favorite president is pretty lighthearted about faking WMD threats and going to war with other countries for fun. But when he's on his mountain bike, bloody hell... he means business! People who have ridden with him have come back and told the rest that the President could easily make a competitive Cat 5 rider. :)

From the comforting Republican surrounding of the White House lawn to the world class trails of communist Beijing, its World domination on a mountain bike!

His equipment? The President bombs down hills on a 4000 dollar TREK. You'll be assured that this is a one of a kind paintjob!

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Einstein

Einstein spent so much time writing papers that he rides this bike like he never saw one before, smiling like a baby in the process. If only had he unraveled the more detailed mysteries of the bicycle other than the fact that to keep your balance you'd have to keep 'moving', how many more puzzling books, stupid bike forums and arrogant technical faggets could we have eliminated. Sigh...

World famous daredevil stuntman poses with his bicycle in front of his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I wonder if he was headed for a weekend warrior ride in full costume?! We'll probably never know.

Did you know that Zappa, one of the legends of Rock and Jazz actually started out making money playing the bicycle as a musical instrument?? Bizarre as it sounds, Zappa was a thorough entertainer even back in those days.

George Clooney bought a sweet house at Lake Como, the same place Lance lived around when he was training for the Tour. Carefree, with his baseball cap turned around, George hits the trails with his college friend Tate Donovan. He also gathered publicity at a point with a proposed bike ride with none other than Bono around the Irish countryside.

From the look of it, she seems like she's in a hurry to get somewhere. She is the highest paid model in the world, so she's probably busting ass just like any of us to get to work! 100 points for that!

Just a suggestion, Gisele. I bet Tom Brady wouldn't be too pleasant seeing the ugly saddle sores so invest some of that 33 million you pocket, in Spandex!!!! You'll even look hotter! 0 points for that.

After he retired from flying Space Shuttle missions for NASA, former astronaut John Herrington started riding his bike, and when I say biking, serious biking! He once embarked on a 4000 mile bicycle ride from Cape Flattery on Washington's Olympic Peninsula to Cape Canaveral in Florida. For what??

To promote student interest in science, technology, engineering and math!!!

Channel 4News Presenter and Journalist has seldom hidden his enthusiasm for biking, and claims there's hardly a day when he doesn't ride.

When Phil Liggett moved out of the CTC President's chair, Jon Snow was the next best candidate who could fill in Liggett's craze for cycling. CTC, by the way, is the UK's National Cyclist's Organization.

You would think this star NBA player with a towering 6 foot 8 inch frame is the least likely candidate to take up cycling. But he's proven everyone wrong. Apparently, Lebron happens to be a multi-sport athlete and spends a lot of time biking in the off-season.

He didn't want to stop there, and so also went ahead and bought a stake in the Cannondale bicycle corporation. What that means is that Lebron is literally an owner of Cannondale!

He also hold a ride for kids called the Kid's Bike-a-Thon every year and the proceeds directly benefit charity.

Potential President of the USA to be rides bicycles on weekends. Barrack actually seems to be made like a climber. Running in election to be the most powerful man in the world and being this thin translates into a very high power to weight ratio!!!

The Grey's Anatomy star is also an avid cyclist. He reads Bicycling Magazine, has met Tom Boonen, rides the Charity part of the Amgen Tour of California every year and rides a nice looking Specialized Roubaix to top that all up.

Canadian actress loves to live the green life, riding her bike in Toronto. She reportedly said in an interview that she does not own a car and that in Toronto, her only mode of transport is her bike. Way to go Rachel!

It is well known fact by now that this famous comedian loves to bike and is a total bike geek. He's a bike collector and a staunch supporter of Lance and the Livestrong ideals. According to some sources, he has about 50+ bikes in his collection!!! I very much envy him because he's got one of those neat Independant Fabrication Stainless Steel bikes (953 Reynolds').Said Robin once, "When I'm riding my bicycle I feel like a Buddhist who is happy just to enjoy his mundane existence."

I wonder if all his biking and bike collection landed him his second straight divorce from his partner?!

Its almost hard to miss a movie featuring Russell. Heck, he's perfect! Being one of my favorite actors, it was surprising to see the Gladiator star abandon motorized means of transport to ride his bike to the supermarket.

Sarah likes to save up money and bike ride instead. Here, she looks pretty chic with the pink urban cruiser but how on earth is she going to ride with those high heels?! You know what, I think this is a photo op. But the girl actually rides!MORE :

Its strange. Sheryl Crow is a fitness buff, but she happens to be a cancer survivor just like Lance. Whats more, she was Owen Wilson's first love interest until Lance had to come and snatch her. After they divorced, Lance went for Owen's other girl, Kate Hudson!!! What a playerr!!!! Correct me if I'm wrong.

Before all this craziness began, Sheryl was linked with Eric Clapton, who was also into bicycles as we mentioned before. Whats the common thread here?

Btw, I respect the fact that Sheryl rides her bike. She's pretty serious too I think. According to some sources, she attempted to ride up the Alpe D'Huez on her TREK Madone, and accomplished it in a time of 90 minutes. Not bad.

For anyone to go up the Alpe on a bicycle is hardly anywhere close to average recreation.

Here's a famous picture of ex-UK Prime Minister Tony Blair cycling through the streets of Amsterdam to an EU Summit. Blair was present at this year's Beijing Olympics to actively support British cyclists.

23 comments:

Wow Ron... I don't know how long your search took but I think you got 'em all. But one thing I noticed... for the celebrities or politicians who are wearing helmets... why can't they seem to put them on right or get the right fit?

...but for my money, nobody on that list & i mean nobody, compares to ol' #50...robin 'freakin' williams...he 'gets it', he lives & breathes it...i believe he loves it more than 'normal' people could ever understand...in other words, he's one of us...

...i've only been on two 'serious' rides in the last two weeks & i've seen robin both times...& we've passed each other regularly around here for ages...

...& those 50 (or so) bikes ???...despite the numbers, i'll bet there is a thought, a feeling, a bit a' love & a story behind every one of 'em...

...robin williams is a cyclist who happens to be famous for his comedic wit & his altruistic offerings...everyone else on the list is a celebrity who rides a bike, by comparison...

Hello Ron,my name is Patrick Munck and I'm living in Germany.I was wondering about the rights concerning the images of celebrities on bikes.I'd like to use some of them for a noncomercial bicycle-promotion event.Could you let me know if thei're free to use ?

..hi Ron, i also have similar post on my blog, although ain't as good as your post, but I think it's enough to inform people who love cycling, come and see my blog :)http://www.lowriderbikespicture.com/